Double-acting himge



June 13, 1950 c. w. KUJAWA 2,511,777

DOUBLE-ACTING HINGE Filed Dec. so, 1946 INVENTOR CLEMENS W. KUJAWA ATTORNEYS Patented June 13, l gd i 2,511,711,511 DOUBLE-ACTING Clemens W. Kujawa; H Application December'30, 194 6, Seti alNot 719,202 j My invention refers to door hinges and it has for its primary object to provide a simple and effective double acting hinge for closures of all kinds, such as windows, articles of furniture, or the like. The hinge is especially applicable to household articles such as refrigerators that are usually positioned in confined or restricted space, where a one-way swing of thedoor isfrequently awkward due to interference with other doors or articles of household use.

Another object of my invention is to provide hinges in upper and lower complementary pairs, having strap and leaf sections attached to the door and frame, with strap supports fixed to the door frame flush therewith whereby sagging of the door due to load strain is eliminated. 1

The'strap element is equal in length to the width of the door having one of its leaves attached to the edge of the door'while' the opposite leaf is attached to the frame of the same. Withthe above and other objects 'in "'view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical emlbodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a face View of a refrigerator having a door in hinge connection therewith embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a, fragmentary plan sectional view of the same, the section being indicated by line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar plan sectional view upon another plane, the section being indicated by line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the upper hinge and associated elements, the section being indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 1, the door being shown in its closed position.

Figure 5 is a detailed cross sectional fragmentary view through the lower end of the door and refrigerator illustrating the door in its closed position.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the hinge elements.

Referring by characters to the drawings, A

indicates-a refrigerator having a framed opening- 3 and adoor- C' for closing said-framed opening, the door being illustrated in its open position.

The upper portion 'of the door frame is pro vided with slots I-l'therein for-the reception of a strap -2-,- wh'ich strap is countersunk with the face of-theddorframe'i l no end of 'thi's strap Tie-provided with a leaf 2 which is secured to the door frame -or-refr iger-" ator. The opposite end of this one-pie'c'e strap is also provided with a hinge leaf 2", which leaf issecured to 'one edge of 'the door C. As shown in Figure 1 when the door is swung open from left'toright, thestrap 2 is supportedthroughoutits length by -the upper web of a grooved channel iron rail 3,- which rail is countersunk into the face of the-door frame and secured thereto, the -said countersunk ends being fitted into'slots 3'. a 1 -Alined with' this "rail and associated slots, isal complementary -hinge strap 4, which extends across the inner face 'of 'the door C, it being un-' derstood that all of these straps are of a width equal to the width of the door.

The strap 4 is provided at one end with a hinged leaf 4' which is secured to the frame of the door and the opposite leaf 4" is secured to the edge of said door C. As particularly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the lower portion of the door and frame have similar double acting hinge elements attached thereto, wherein, as shown, when the door is open, the strap 5 extends across the width of the door end and the leaf, at its outer end is secured to the edge of said door while the inner leaf 5" is secured to the door frame, in alinement with slots 66.

One pair of slots 3' at the top corners of the framed openin B, and another pair of slots 6, at the lower corners are provided.

Thus it should :be noted that when the door is opened from left to right, the strap 1 is snugly nested into the metallic channel iron 8 to resist vertical up and down load strain upon the door. When the door is opened from right to left, the same result is obtained, due to the fact that the strap 4 is supported snugly Within the channel iron 3, whereby vertical movement of the door is resisted.

The lower companion hinge strap I is seated within the channeled rail 8, which rail is countersunk in slots 8, it being understood that the upper web of said channel rail 8 is alined with the lower edge of the bottom strap 5, whereby the same is supported. The hinge strap 1 is provided with a hinged leaf 1' secured to the door frame and a second leaf 1" is secured to the juxtaposed edge of the door, it being understood that the two hinge leaves 1" and 5" are in axial alinement when the door is opened, as shown in Figure 1.

As indicated in full lines of Figures 2-5 inclusive, the door is shown in its closed position and in said position, the pairs of straps are nested and supportedby the upper, and lower rails 3 and 1 respectively;

From the foregoing description, as indicated in dotted lines of Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings,

when the door C is swung from left to,-;right,the,

straps 4 and 5 are carried out with the inner face of the door while the straps 2 and I remain nested and supported by the rails 3- and. 8. flush. with the face of the door frame.

When the door is swung in the opposite dire'c tion, from right to left",v as indicated in dotted lines of; Figures 2 and 3,- the upper and. lower straps, 2 and 1, respectivelm; follow the inner face of the door while said doorswings; upon the strap hinge leaves 2 and-1' respectively.

Thus, it will be noted, that the. door may be swung either to the. right or to. the left and, in each instance its dormant associated strap element will be supported :by the rails: 3.- and. 8 respectively.

I claim:

In a receptacle having a door frame opening; .provided with a fiat outer face and a, double hinged door for the frame opening adapted. to open from left to right and from right to left, the; upper and lower corners of the frame-opening being provided with. aligned pairs of horizontally disposedslots, the lower slots, beingexien p b v om? f. ai :rece ap l e the upper slots extend entirely below the top of thereceptacle opening, a c hanel iron, secured to the bottom of the lower slots, having its upper face flush with "the hottoni of said. receptacle 4 opening, and a similar channel iron secured to the base of the upper slots, the channel irons being flush with the outer face of the receptacle frame, a pair of upper and lower left to right door opening straps extending across the door, each strap having a hinged leaf secured to the right hand wall of the receptacle, the said straps, at their opposite ends, being provided with hinged leaves secured to the opposite edges of the door, the. upper strap being aligned and adapted to be nested inthe associated channel iron, and the lower strap being aligned with the top face of the lower channel iron, a pair of right to left door opening straps having hinge leaves secured to "the left hand side wall of the receptacle, the lowerstrap being aligned and adapted to nest within the associated channel iron, each of the other ends of said strapshaving a hinged leaf secured to opposite edges of the door, whereby when the door is opened from left to right, one of the lower hinge. straps is nested within a channel iron to eliminate vertical movement of the door, and when said door is opened from right to left, one of the, upper straps is nested within the, as,- s'ociated. channel iron to also eliminate vertical movement of the door, such vertical movements of, said door being. due. to vertical up and down ldad pressure exerted upon. the door.

CLEMENS W. KUJAWA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references, are; of record in the file of: this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number ame Date. 83,760 Cark'eet Nov. 3,1868 4l4,384 D'u'ddeii not. 5', 1889 550,333 Bauer -l Nov. 26, 1895 1, 22,156 Pam'son July 23, 1929 2,205,484 Lindsay June 25, 1'940 

